Aseed

Method

1. 1 Toast the flour in a dry pan for 10 minutes until it turns light yellow and has a fragrant nutty aroma.
2. 2 Roasting the flour beforehand is the key difference between the savory version, which is eaten with meat broth, and the sweet version, which requires fragrant flour.
3. 3 Boil water, then sprinkle in the roasted flour and stir continuously with a wooden pestle for 15 minutes.
4. 4 Stir until the dough becomes pliable and separates from the sides of the pot.
5. 5 Shape the clay into a cone and then press a deep indentation at the top.
6. 6 Pour melted butter, date syrup, and honey into the hollow, then sprinkle with cardamom, pistachios, and sesame seeds.

With an appliance

• Microwave 38 min

  Replace steps 3–4: mix the roasted flour with boiling water in a deep bowl, then microwave at 700W for four 2-minute cycles, stirring vigorously between each cycle; the dough will cook until pliable in 8 minutes instead of 15 minutes, and there's no need to stand and stir constantly. The first roasting step is still done in the pan to give the flour a nutty aroma, then toss and drizzle with honey as in steps 5–6.